Locking device for grease-plugs.



D. S. GUENTHER. LOCKING DEVICE FOR GREASE PLUGS.

APPLICATION IILED DBO.16, 1907.

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LOCKING DEVICE FOR GREASE PLUGS.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.16, 1907.

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DAVID S. GUENTHER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR GREASE-PLUGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Application filed December 16, 1907. Serial No. 406,629.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID S. GUENTHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking Devices for Grease-Hugs; and I do declare the follow ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked there on, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in means for locking the plugs in grease receptacles for lubricating side rods or main rods of locomotives, and may be briefly stated to consist of locking devices for lubricating receptacles. The locking de vice is especially adapted to lock the screwthreaded plug in the oil receptacle so that it will not be detached under the constant movement of the side rods of a locomotive, or the connecting rods on stationary engines. Much annoyance is experienced by the accidental removal of these plugs from the lubrieating cup or receptacle and the object of the present invention is to overcome these annoyances by providing means which prevent the plug from becoming detached from the mouth of the oil receptacle.

Preceding a detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1, is a vertical sectional elevation of the strap end of a connecting rod showing my improvements applied. Fig. 2, is a top plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a detail view of the key which is instrumental in locking or maintaining the top of the frame together. Fig. 4, is a detail of the locking devices which cooperate with the key as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5, is a sectional elevation of the strap end of the connecting rod showing a modification of the locking devices. Fig. 6, is an elevation of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8, are detail views, in perspective, of the locking devices.

In a detail description of the invention, similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts.

1 designates the strap end of the connecting rod of a locomotive, 3 the brass inclosed by said strap and 2 the wrist pin supported in the brass.

1 1 designates the grease receptacle extending from the upper side of the strap 1 and feeding the wrist pin 2 through a grease channel 4 extending through the strap 1 and the brass 3.

12 designates a screw-threaded plug closing the grease receptacle 11. The parts thus far described are old and well-known features and the present invention relates to means for securing the grease plug 12 from aceidental removal under the vibrations of the connecting rod. These features comprise an upright frame consisting of side members 5 which are rigidly secured at 10 to the upper side of the strap 1 on each side of the grease receptacle.

6 is a cover hinged to one of the side members 5 at 7, and 8 is another hinged portion of the frame which is joined by a hinge 9 to the other side member 5 of the frame. The hinged upper portion 6 of the frame has an aperture 16 which receives the plug holder 15, the lower end of said plug holder having a square head 17 which fits a similar shaped socket 13 in the upper end of the grease plug 12. The aperture 16 is square as is also the plug holder 15, so that the latter cannot turn.

14 is a coil spring inclosed between the head 17 and the upper inner side of the hinge cover 6 this coil spring exerts a downward pressure on the head 17 to maintain it in the socket 13.

18 is another coil spring surrounding the plug holder 15 above the cover 6 and coniined between the upper side of said cover and a cotter pin 19 which penetrates the upper end of the plug holder 15. The purpose of this upper coil spring is to prevent the lower spring 14 from moving the plug holder 15 too far inwardly or downwardly when the cover 6 is thrown open upon its hinge 7 and the plug holder is removed from engagement with the plug 12; this takes place whenever it becomes necessary to remove the plug to 1 supply the receptacle with grease. The tension of the spring 14 is greater than that of the spring 18, but the tension of the latter spring is sufficient to prevent the spring 14 from completely moving the plug holder 15 inwardly or downwardly when said plug holder is disconnected from the plug. The upper end of the frame member 8 overlaps the adjacent portion of the cover 6, and the said cover 6 at this point is locked in position as shown in Fig. 1 by means of a key 20 which l penetrates an opening 22 in the cover after passing through an opening 23 in the..ex-.

from opening under the vibrations of the connecting rod, by means of the arms 25 that extend'from the sides of the-key 20; these arms are adapted to lie between the upright portions of brackets 21 which are secured to the topof said hinged portion 8. 'When these arms 25 are thus inclosed by said brackets, it will be apparent from Fig. 1 that the hinged portion 8 of the frame cannot open. When it is desired to open said hinged portion- 8 and the cover 6, the key 20 is givena quarter turn to bring the arms 25 in line with the slot 23 in the'to of said hinged portion 8; this slot 23- it will be seen from Fig. 4, is at right angles to the space inclosed'by the adjacent sides of the brackets 21.

The modification on Sheet v2 comprises a single frame member 26 which is bolted to the upper side of the strap 1 and: is provided with an elongated slot 27 on each side of which there is a series of apertures 28. The grease plug 12 in this case is provided with a square extension 29which is adapted to'fit a similar opening 30 in the inner end 'ofa locking frame 31 this locking frame hastwo arms 32 with. projecting pins 33, the pins passing'through apertures in a plate 34 and the ends of the arms 32 abut against the inner side of said plate 34. The plate 34 has on its outer side an off-set 3'5 with a central aperture 36 the oif-set 35 lies within the secured together by means of cotter ins39. The outer plate 38 'hastwo-pins 40w mm: are

adapted to fit in the openings 28 in: the frame 26, and thus the entire deviceconsisting of the locking frame 31 and the plates 34 and 38is held in any suitable positlon within the slot 27-to enableth'esaid'frame 31 to engage the head of the screw plug 12.

Passing through the center of the outer plate 38 and extending through the central aperture in the inner plate 34 is a bolt 37 which lies between the arms 32 of the locking frame 31; thisbolt 37 is surrounded by a coil spring 41 which exerts a pressure to maintain the said plates in rigid contact with opposite sides of the frame 26, and to thus prevent any accidental displacement of the locking frame 31. The outer end of the bolt 37 isprovided with a finger-piece '43 by means of which the said bolt is drawn outwardly todisconnect the pins 40from the apertures 28 in the frame 26- and to thus permit the frame 31 to be shifted to the desired position to permit a removal of the grease plug 12 and a replacement thereof.

I claim:

1'. Means for locking the grease plug of a lubricating receptacle for the side rods-or connecting rods of engines, comprising in combination with the grease receptacle, and the grease plug therefor, means engaging the upper end of said grease plug, means for holding said engaging means in engagement with the grease plug, and a supportingframe secured tothe endof the side rod orconnecting rod and up on which said holding means is supported.

2. In a device for locking the grease plugs of grease receptacles, the combination with a grease plug, of a locking -member engaging said grease plug, means for maintaining such engagement, a supporting frame for said locking member, and means enabling the locking member'to be supported at different points on the supporting frame.

3. In a device'for'locking the grease plugs of greasereceptacles, the combination with a grease plug, of a locking member engaging said plug to-hold it, a frame, plates engaging the oppositesides of said frame and holding the'locking member on said frame, there being means ontheframe enabling the locking member to be supported at different points on said-frame.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses;

DAVID S. GUENTI-IER. Witnesses R. J. IVIGCART-Y, O. M. THnoBALn. 

